Lopez Lomong's foster parents off to London to cheer him on in the men's 5,000-meter run

Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-StandardRobert and Barbara Rogers pose at their home recently on Otisco Lake with a copy of the newly released book about Lopez Lomong, their foster son. They said Lomong intends on keeping a low profile in the semi-finals of the 5,000 meters Wednesday so that he won't be anyone's "target" in the finals on Saturday.

Tully residents Rob and Barbara Roger headed off Saturday morning to London to cheer on runner Lopez Lomong, their foster son, in the Olympics.

Lomong is running a semi-final heat in the 5,000-meter run on Wednesday morning. If he gets by that, he’ll compete Saturday in the finals – hopefully for a medal, the Rogers said.

“He’s been training the past couple of weeks at high altitude in northern Arizona,” Rob Rogers said. “He feels great. He’s been training at Olympic-winning time pace. He’s ready to do it.”

The father said he and his wife will be staying the first couple of nights with Brittany Morreale, their son’s girlfriend, who’s in London studying at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Afterward, the girlfriend has arranged for them to stay in an apartment that’s close to the stadium, roughly a 20-minute walk away, Rob Rogers said. Tuesday, the Rogers are planning a bus tour of London, the father said.

“I just wanted to thank everyone for the support they’ve given Lopez and us,” he said this past week. “Wherever I go, I get messages from people to pass on their support and good wishes for him. I get about 30 a day.”

The Rogers will both be wearing their “Pride of Tully” T-shirts. The shirts are being sold at Encore Video in Tully and online. All proceeds will be donated to Lomong’s foundation “4 South Sudan,” which offers food, water, health care and education and other assistance to people in his homeland.

Kirby Lee / US PresswireLopez Lomong has a deep, personal faith in God and prays before and after every race. At the Olympics, he'll be wearing the bead and string ring that his African mother made him.

Lomong told his foster parents he’s planning on “just getting through” the semi-final on Wednesday. He just wants to qualify for the finals.

“He wants to stay off everyone’s radar screen and not be the one that everyone is targeting,” he said.

The Rogers said Lomong has a strong faith in God and prays before and after every race. He’ll also be wearing the string and bead ring that his mother in Africa made him. He always tries to hold it up when he’s being interviewed to show his mom he’s thinking of her, Barbara Rogers said.

Following the Olympics, the father said Lomong is planning to run several other races in Europe and should be back to visit in Tully in late September with his girlfriend.

‘Pride of Tully’ T-shirts:
The shirts are being sold at Encore Video, 3 Elm St., Tully. The store is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. today (Sunday).
The shirts are also available online. To order, online click on the following links: